MIAMI (AP) - Police have detained at least three people in the Fort Myers area for questioning in the death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor.

A law enforcement official in Lee County confirmed the men from the Fort Myers area were in custody, but requested anonymity because the investigation is being handled by Miami-Dade County police.
Miami-Dade police Detective Carlos Maura said he was not aware of anyone in custody. He said only that detectives were in the Fort Myers area for a case, but declined to say which one.

The Miami Herald, which first reported the development on its Web site, said investigators believe three suspects learned of Taylor's house through someone who unwittingly set up the burglary by bragging about his wealth. The suspects include two teenagers and a man in his 20s, all from the Fort Myers area, the paper reported.

A telephone message left at the Florida City Police Department for the athlete's father, Chief Pedro Taylor, was not immediately returned.

Richard Sharpstein, a former Taylor lawyer and family friend, confirmed the law enforcement report.

"It's my understanding that three individuals are in custody. A house is being searched," Sharpstein said, without disclosing who had given him the information.

He repeated previous statements that the burglary did not appear to be random, and that the 24-year-old's house had been targeted.

Evidence at Taylor's home indicated one or more intruders barged into the house early Monday in an attempted burglary, Miami-Dade police director Robert Parker said Wednesday.

Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened by loud noises at Taylor's home in an affluent Miami suburb, Sharpstein has said. Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, Sharpstein said, then someone broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor in the upper leg. Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured in the attack.

The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness and died a little more than 24 hours later.

A public viewing for Taylor is scheduled Sunday in Miami, and the entire Redskins organization plans to fly to Florida to attend Monday's funeral at Pharmed Arena at Florida International University.

The police have detained three men for questioning in death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, according to two law enforcement officials in Lee County, Fla.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Miami-Dade County police department is in charge of the investigation, and they would not provide further details.

Detective Mario Rachid of the Miami-Dade County Police Department said investigators were ďlooking for leadsĒ in Lee County, which is 160 miles northwest of Miami.

Taylor, 24, was shot in his home in suburban Miami early Monday morning and died on Tuesday after what the police have said appeared to be a random attempted burglary.

Rachid said he could not confirm that anyone had been detained in connection with the case because the investigation continued.

The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that three men were brought in for questioning in Taylorís killing. The men, all from the Fort Myers area, include two teenagers ó one 17, the other 19 ó and a 26-year-old, who were suspected of choosing the home after someone had bragged about Taylorís wealth, the newspaper reported.

Taylorís father, Pedro, a police chief in Florida City in Miami-Dade County, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Taylor, who had not played in two weeks because of an injury, had been asleep in his bedroom with his girlfriend and their 18-month-old daughter, when noises in their house awoke them. He grabbed a machete he kept under the bed for protection, while his girlfriend hid beneath the covers with the baby. At least one intruder appeared at the bedroom door, shooting twice. One bullet hit a wall. The other hit Taylor, severing a main artery in his leg, which caused massive bleeding. His girlfriend and daughter were not injured.

Taylorís funeral has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Florida International University in Miami. Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, has chartered a plane to fly the team, coaches and others in the organization to the service.

The National Football League will hold a moment of silence in Taylorís honor before each game this weekend, and teams have placed a decal of his No. 21 on helmets. The Redskins players will wear decals and jersey patches.

The tough and talented Taylor went from stardom at the University of Miami to a starting role with the Redskins, who signed him to a seven-year, $18 million contract after selecting him with the fifth over all pick in the 2004 N.F.L. draft.

The beginning of his professional career was chaotic, with tens of thousands of dollars in fines for various infractions, including late hits and uniform violations. In 2006, he was fined for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman. But last season, Taylor played in the Pro Bowl.

The police have detained three men for questioning in death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, according to two law enforcement officials in Lee County, Fla.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Miami-Dade County police department is in charge of the investigation, and they would not provide further details.

Detective Mario Rachid of the Miami-Dade County Police Department said investigators were ďlooking for leadsĒ in Lee County, which is 160 miles northwest of Miami.

Taylor, 24, was shot in his home in suburban Miami early Monday morning and died on Tuesday after what the police have said appeared to be a random attempted burglary.

Rachid said he could not confirm that anyone had been detained in connection with the case because the investigation continued.

The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that three men were brought in for questioning in Taylorís killing. The men, all from the Fort Myers area, include two teenagers ó one 17, the other 19 ó and a 26-year-old, who were suspected of choosing the home after someone had bragged about Taylorís wealth, the newspaper reported.

Taylorís father, Pedro, a police chief in Florida City in Miami-Dade County, did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

Taylor, who had not played in two weeks because of an injury, had been asleep in his bedroom with his girlfriend and their 18-month-old daughter, when noises in their house awoke them. He grabbed a machete he kept under the bed for protection, while his girlfriend hid beneath the covers with the baby. At least one intruder appeared at the bedroom door, shooting twice. One bullet hit a wall. The other hit Taylor, severing a main artery in his leg, which caused massive bleeding. His girlfriend and daughter were not injured.

Taylorís funeral has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Florida International University in Miami. Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Redskins, has chartered a plane to fly the team, coaches and others in the organization to the service.

The National Football League will hold a moment of silence in Taylorís honor before each game this weekend, and teams have placed a decal of his No. 21 on helmets. The Redskins players will wear decals and jersey patches.

The tough and talented Taylor went from stardom at the University of Miami to a starting role with the Redskins, who signed him to a seven-year, $18 million contract after selecting him with the fifth over all pick in the 2004 N.F.L. draft.

The beginning of his professional career was chaotic, with tens of thousands of dollars in fines for various infractions, including late hits and uniform violations. In 2006, he was fined for spitting in the face of Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman. But last season, Taylor played in the Pro Bowl.

If they travelled all the way from Fort Myers that night, my guess is that they thought they were breaking into an empty house, and did not have a beef with Shawn Taylor.

So a crook breaks in a couple days before, sees that NFL player owns some pretty nice stuff, but he can't carry the plasma TVs out by himself. He comes back a couple of days later with some buddies to carry off the loot. They cut the phone line to keep any kind of alarm system from going off.

But that doesn't explain why they would break down the door, not knowing if this guy had guns in his room or what. You'd think if they realized he was home, they would run off or try to do it quietly. And robbery definitely doesn't explain why the solo guy didn't take anything. You'd think he could find something he could carry himself that he'd take while he was there. Jewelry, something.

Or maybe they stole his guns on the previous breakin, wanted to check out the room and case the place if they were going to come back and get him later.

But all the loud noises seem to mean they weren't trying to be quiet. Maybe they thought no one was home, then somehow they figured out he was home, figured he was going to come out of his bedroom with an AK, and so they were going to get him first. It's dark, the guy fires and he drops (not knowing he just caught the leg), and they all run off.

I don't know why you would break down the door, not knowing what you were going to find on the other side, instead of just running.

And if you were going to kill someone, why not just send one guy? Why have accomplices there to roll over on you later or something? None of this really makes sense.

The most plausible thing seems to be a mix of robbery, people who had it in for him anyway, and bad guys who aren't too smart...? We probably aren't dealing with a bunch of rhodes scholars here breaking into houses and shooting people.